Mini Cooper D 5-Door -- Road Test Review

Family Man

By: Joshua David Luther

Apr 07 2015

Report:
Joshua David Luther; Photography: Mohd. Nasir

If you have
seen the movie ‘The Italian Job’ you are bound to be a fan of the Mini. One of
the reasons I was hitched to this movie was because it displays how agile a
Mini Cooper can be. It is not just about how fast a car can go, but how well it
handles and how maneuverable it really is. Everyone knows the Mini Cooper as a
small hatchback. It is perfect till the time you are a bachelor because it has
just enough room for you and your little entourage. But what happens when you
hang up the gloves and decide to settle down? When beer bottles are replaced by
baby bottles? If you are beginning to sweat don’t you worry!

There is a
new contender in town and it is bigger and bolder. Mini has launched a new
5-door version. The new 5-door Mini is slightly longer and taller than the 3-door
version while width remains the same. Well five doors means the rear passenger
seats are much more accessible now. The cargo volume has also increased
significantly and the Mini just became an ideal hatch for the savvy Indian family
man. The cabin space has increased and the boot is slightly longer than before.
The real treat however on the new Mini Cooper D is still its brute Brit looks.
It still has that typical ‘England aaah!’ feeling about it. The new Mini is
available in ten exciting colours including the Blazing Red version which we
tested. The new 5-door Mini comes with a variety of optional fitment including
racing stripes seen on the test mule.

Mini Cooper
D 5-Door

Engine

Transmission

Max Power

Max Torque

Fuel
Efficiency

1,496cc, 3-cylinder,
turbocharged diesel, 12V DOHC

6-speed
automatic

114 bhp@ 4000rpm

270 Nm@ 1750rpm

19.03/
21.15kmpl (City/ Highway)

Suspension:
Front/Rear

Brake:
Front/ Rear

Fuel Tank
Capacity

Tyres:
Front/ Rear

Price

Single
Joint-Spring Strut/ Multi-Control arm

Disc / Disc

44 litres

205/45 R16

Rs 35,20,000(ex-showroom, Delhi)

The car
carries the distinct Mini look with a cute looking front façade and a large
front grille which gives a beaming impression where ever it goes. Running along
the bottom of the car and the fenders is a black plastic cladding which adds to
the appeal this car carries and the A, B and C pillars have a black high gloss
finish while the roof matches the body colour. The roof slopes down at the rear
and the boot curves to give the Mini Cooper D a very chic look. The taillights
have been redesigned to look sportier and come with a chrome lining. The new
Mini also comes with chrome exhaust tips and has a lot of other features which
can be customised. The car comes with high performance tubeless tyres and 16
inch alloys which can also be upgraded to a 17 inch option. The new Mini Cooper
D has LED DRLs and lots of chrome inserts to make this one of the sexiest
hatchbacks to own.

We took this
5-door Mini to the outskirts of the city for a test and it was probably the
most fun I have ever had in any hatch. Throbbing at the heart of this Cooper’s
machinery is a 1.5 L, 3-cylinder, V12, turbo charged diesel engine which
produces 114bhp @ 4000rpm and 270Nm of torque @ 1750rpm. This car will go from
0-100kmph in 9.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 202kmph which is not bad at
all. Yes, it’s not as quick as the Mini Cooper S (3-door) but it does have a
much better average of 19.03kmpl in the city, if that sort of thing matters to you.
The Mini Cooper D uses a 6-speed automatic which is as smooth as a sliding over
ice. You also have the option of electronically controlled damping now and can
choose between Sport, Mid and Green modes. Like all other Minis this one also
handles quite like a go-kart, it rides close to the ground and has broad 205/45
R16 run flat tubeless tyres which provide some phenomenal grip on tarmac. The
Mini Cooper D 5-door comes with a 44 litre fuel tank and a boot space of 278
litres.

On the inside
the car is actually quite roomy, well at least for the front passengers. Mini
says it’s a car meant for 5 people but it would get a bit cramped in the rear
if you had 3 adults sitting. In terms of accessibility it’s better to have the
two additional doors. The Mini Cooper D 5-door comes with BMW’s iDrive
technology and the circular centre console is very easy to navigate through and
operate. The car has a multifunction sport leather steering wheel as optional
fitment. Mini has offered a variety of different optional packages for this car
and has increased the extent of customization possible. Some handy
features which this car has are glove box cooling, cruise control, voice
control, climate control and air quality control. The car comes with a variety
of safety features like ABS, driver and passenger airbags, brake assist, crash
sensors, runflat indicator, dynamic stability control, cornering brake control,
etc.

The new Mini
Cooper D 5-door feels like one of the most practical and well thought out
hatchbacks to ever be made. It does not have any un-necessary features and it
has many different options for customisation. It still carries the typical Mini
fit and finish along with a go-kart like drive. The interiors are exceptional
with a well laid out multimedia system and ergonomic designs. The rear
passenger doors are definitely an advantage and the space in the rear is decent
by Indian standards. And like all good things in the world, you have got to pay
for it. The car comes for Rs. 35,20,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).

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